What do millennials want in the workplace? Free Chipotle would be nice, for starters. But seriously, as more and more millennials enter the workforce, understanding this generation’s unique set of workplace values will be key for businesses. In fact, by 2020, millennials are projected to represent a solid 40 percent of the working population. So, what do millennials want? To see these 10 values represented in the workplace:
- Collaboration: Blame it on our habit of crowd sourcing via social media, but millennials are all about collaboration at work. From the open office plans in hot young tech start ups to frequent team meetings, millennials thrive in groups and often work best when they’re able to bounce ideas off one another.
- A Sense of Community: That desire for collaboration goes hand-in-hand with millennials’ desire for a welcoming workplace culture that feels like a real community. Hey, we’re going be working here from nine to five (unless we’ve scored a flexible work schedule … see #4), we’d prefer to actually feel some camaraderie with the folks we’re sharing cubes with.
- Ethics in the Workplace: There’s a reason why companies like Warby Parker and Tom’s are popular among the millennial set — millennials want to do business with businesses that do good, and they want to work for ethical businesses, too. In fact, Intelligence Group found that more than 60 percent of millennials cite making the world a better place as a major priority.
- Flexibility: Sit a millennial in a cubicle for too long and he or she will start to get a little antsy. For millennials, flexibility at work is high on their wish list, whether that means the ability to occasionally work remotely, or adjust schedules to come in earlier or stay later to work around life demands.
- The Chance to Travel: In 2013, PwC surveyed their pretty vast workplace and found that a significant portion — 37 percent — of their millennial employees desired to work overseas at some point. And that’s applicable to millennials at large. A lot of us have been bitten by the wanderlust bug, and we’d love to figure out a way to incorporate travel into our careers.
- Independence: Micro-managers, beware: The millennial employee doesn’t want bosses breathing down his or her neck. Give millennials some breathing room to figure out workplace solutions on their own, or with a team.
- An “Open Door” Policy: Yes, millennials crave independence, but we don’t want to be left hanging in the workplace either. Millennials want managers who can act as mentors, welcome questions, and offer career advice. In return, you reap the rewards of truly engaged and respectful employees.
- Respect: Yes, millennials are all about respect, just not the way older generations might be. Instead of giving respect based on seniority or authority, millennials want their peers and bosses to earn their respect through demonstrable skills, knowledge, and how they treat others.
- Diversity: Millennials are a pretty diverse bunch, so it’s no surprise that we value diversity in the workplace. But we’re not just talking about racial, gender, and cultural diversity, but diversity of thought and opinion. In fact, consulting firm Deloitte found that 86 percent of millennials think a diversity of opinions lead to teams that truly excel.
- Financial Security: Stereotypes of millennial employees revolve around their desire for ping pong tables in the break room and daily catered lunches. But what millennials really want isn’t so different from other generations: A sense of financial security and stability. As the generation arguably hit hardest during the recession, money matters to millennials, as does good benefits packages — so employers shouldn’t assume providing ping pong tables absolves them of also providing decent salaries and benefits to the millennial set.
What other workplace values do you think employees in the millennial generation share? Tell us in the comments below!
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